NBA champs on verge of elimination

May 25, 2016 - 4:36 AM Andrew Bogut's record-breaking, once seemingly invincible Golden State Warriors are one loss away from being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder outworked and outplayed the defending champion Warriors on Tuesday in Oklahoma 118-94 to take a 3-1 lead in the western conference finals series.

Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry and fellow Warriors star Draymond Green had poor games.

Game five will be played at the Warriors' Oracle Arena in Oakland on Thursday.

"The idea now is to go home and get one win," said grim Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

It's the first time the Warriors have lost two straight games all season.

They now face the daunting prospect of having to win the final three games of the seven-game series to survive and move on to the NBA Finals series, including game six in front of another wild Oklahoma crowd.

The Thunder jumped on the Warriors early, taking a 30-26 lead at the first quarter and extending it to 72-53 at halftime.

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was again a menace for the Warriors, with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

"We want it," Westbrook said.

"Our guys did a great job coming out and defending home court."

The Thunder's four-man wall of 213cm tall New Zealand centre Steven Adams, 211cm Enes Kanter, 208cm Serge Ibaka and 206cm Kevin Durant harassed the smaller Warriors.

Kerr pointed to his team's 21 turnovers, many from attempting to pass over the top of the Thunder's big men, as fatal for his team.

The Thunder also out-rebounded the Warriors 56-40.

The Warriors, largely on the back of Curry and Green, broke Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls regular season record with 73 wins and nine losses.

Curry had 19 points from 6-20 shooting in game four, with just four points in the second half.

"He just had a lousy night," Kerr said.

"It happens to even the best players in the world."

Green, who was booed each time he touched the ball, having kicked Adams in the genitals in game three and escaped with a $US25,000 fine but no suspension, had just six points.

Australian centre Bogut, who appears to still be struggling from a groin strain, scored six points and had three rebounds in just 11 minutes on court.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan limited the injured Adams' playing time to 24 minutes, but the Kiwi was still courageous with 11 points and seven rebounds, including four offensive.

Adams is playing with an injured thumb and twisted his right ankle in the first quarter.

The Eastern Conference Finals continue on Wednesday with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors tied at 2-2.

Game five will be played in Cleveland.

Source: AAP